The Retirement Risk Show

How much can you safely withdraw from your retirement savings each year? For decades the standard answer has been the 4% rule. Now its creator, William Bengen, says the number is 4.7%. On this episode, host Dave Hall explains why any one-size-fits-all withdrawal rate can leave retirees either running short or spending far less than they could have. Dave covers where the 4% rule came from, includin...

Would you rather retire with $2 million and pay every bill from it, or with $1 million and a steady income that covers your lifestyle? Host Dave Hall of Retirement Risk Advisors uses that question to explain why retirement income planning, not the size of your nest egg, decides whether your retirement is secure. Dave covers why net worth doesn’t pay the bills and the difference between true income...

You probably know what your 401(k), IRA and home are worth. But do you know your retirement income gap? It's the difference between what your lifestyle costs and the income you can count on every month, and for most Americans it's a gap that has to be planned for.   In this episode of the show, host Dave Hall explains why Social Security was only designed to cover about 40% of your retir...

Many retirees keep managing their portfolio the way they did while saving. In retirement, though, you’re spending your money, not adding to it. In this episode of The Retirement Risk Show, host Dave Hall explains how to move from an asset-based portfolio to a purpose-driven portfolio, where each part of your money has a specific job. Dave covers the difference between risk tolerance and risk capac...

Who will take care of you if you can’t take care of yourself in retirement? Most people say their spouse or their kids. In reality, only about 12% of spouses and 17% of children end up providing long-term care. On this episode of The Retirement Risk Show, host Dave Hall explains one of the most expensive and least-planned-for risks retirees face: long-term care. You’ll learn how a long-term care e...

Nearly half of retirees risk running out of money before they run out of retirement. In this episode, Dave Hall traces how retirement planning quietly became a "do-it-yourself" project — from the creation of Social Security in 1935, through the era of employer pensions, to the 1974 IRA and 1978 401(k) that shifted the responsibility for retirement income onto individuals. Dave explains w...

The 60/40 portfolio was the retirement gold standard for decades — so why is it failing so many retirees today? In this episode of the Retirement Risk Show, host Dave Hall breaks down where the 60/40 portfolio came from, why it worked so well for previous generations, and the 5 specific problems causing it to fall short for retirees now.   Dave traces the 60/40 portfolio back to Harry Markowitz&ap...

How do the ultra-wealthy actually plan for retirement? In this episode, CPA and retirement risk advisor Dave Hall reveals 6 things the ultra-wealthy do differently in their retirement and wealth planning — and how you can apply the same strategies to protect your own retirement.   Drawing on years of experience as a CPA working directly with billionaires and high-net-worth individuals on tax plann...

In this episode, host Dave Hall of Retirement Risk Advisors breaks down the four biggest tax traps that quietly derail retirement plans — and the strategies to avoid them before they become irreversible mistakes.  For many retirees, taxes end up being the single largest cost of retirement — bigger than housing, healthcare, or even a long-term care event. Dave explains why decades of "save eve...

Most retirement advice fixates on one number: your rate of return. But the risk that actually derails a retirement has almost nothing to do with your average performance — it's about when your losses happen. In this episode, CPA and retirement planner Dave Hall explains why structured income, not investment growth, is the real foundation of a secure retirement, and why the financial industry...

Most retirement plans don't fail on day one — they fail in the middle, ten or fifteen years in, when it's too late to go back to work. In this episode of The Retirement Risk Show, host Dave Hall breaks down longevity risk, the retirement risk he ranks as the single biggest threat to a happy retirement in his book Getting Safely Through Retirement.  Dave starts with the story of a 91-year...

5 Irreversible Retirement Mistakes: Social Security, Roth Conversions & Long-Term Care Planning  These are the retirement mistakes you only get to make once. On this episode of The Retirement Risk Show, retirement planner Dave Hall shares a story from early in his career — a real estate deal that taught him a hard lesson about due diligence — and uses it to introduce five irreversible retireme...

Why do most retirement plans fail? It's not bad investments — it's that the entire system changed in the 1970s, and nobody updated the plan. In this episode of the Retirement Risk Show, Dave Hall breaks down how retirement in America shifted from a pension-and-Social-Security "golden age" system to a do-it-yourself model built around the IRA (1974) and the 401(k) (1978) — and w...

As the New Year approaches, Dave brings back on Brian Britt to tackle essential year-end financial strategies to bolster retirement plans. In this episode offers a wealth of information and practical advice for those looking to assess their financial fitness and ensure their retirement roadmap is on point. Throughout the conversation, Dave and Brian explore key areas such as managing holiday expen...

On this exclusive episode, Dave is diving into key topics that can make or break your retirement experience. He shares insights on how to optimize Social Security benefits, manage tax liabilities, and navigate those unpredictable market swings that can impact your portfolio. He also breaks down the importance of establishing a safe withdrawal rate to ensure your funds last as long as you do. But t...

This episode is a real treat--packed with foundational information for your 2025 retirement planning! Dave brings back Alisha Wright, and they delve deep into the pivotal Social Security and retirement planning aspects that every listener should know. The discussion starts with an exploration of the earnings test and how surpassing specified income thresholds can reduce benefits for the individual...

A special episode for you here... Dave Hall takes on the formidable financial challenges that retirees and those on the brink of retirement must navigate.  Dave offers a serious analysis of the United States' fiscal health, advocating for sweeping reforms, such as significant cuts in government spending, the establishment of a Statutory Fiscal Sustainability Commission, and the introduction o...

In this episode, Dave addresses one of the most critical and complex elements of retirement planning: Medicare-- delving into the intricacies of Medicare Advantage plans under Part C, understanding the distinct differences between Parts A, B, and D, and recognizing the severe financial implications of missing key enrollment deadlines. The episode will discuss why nearly half of Americans turn to M...

Joining the conversation is Erica Hunter, a junior advisor with Retirement Risk Advisors, who brings a wealth of insights and expertise to the table. Together, they revisit their experiences preparing for catastrophic hurricanes in Puerto Rico, underscoring the vital importance of continuous and meticulous planning in relations to Risk-Based Lifestyle and Legacy Planning.  The episode delves into...

Welcome to another episode of The Retirement Risk Show ! Hosted by Dave Hall, he brings back Alisha Wright to finish this duology that delves into essential strategies for securing a comfortable and risk-free retirement. In today's episode, Dave and Alisha turn their attention to the often-overlooked issue of cognitive decline and its impact on retirement planning. Listeners will learn about...

Dave Hall and Alisha Wright delve into the pressing issue of elder care planning in retirement. It is a critical area that needs strategic financial planning to prevent running out of retirement funds. They emphasize maximizing Social Security benefits and considering annuities for a stable income. The discussion also highlights elder financial abuse and the importance of protective measures again...

Dave brings back Brian Britt this week to discuss cash flow planning in retirement planning. The chat covers the challenges of transitioning from wealth accumulation to distribution, the significance of guaranteed income, and the impacts of market volatility and inflation on retirees. They also delve into the decline of traditional pensions, strategies for maximizing Social Security benefits, and...

In this episode, you are treated to a deep dive into the complexities of retirement planning. This episode is especially critical for those who are nearing the final stretch of their careers and looking to maximize their retirement contributions over the last decade. Dave methodically breaks down the array of retirement accounts available, from traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs to 401Ks and the incre...

Dave explains what RMDs are, why they matter, and how recent changes in the law have affected when retirees must start taking these distributions from their tax-deferred retirement accounts. Throughout the episode, Dave covers various strategies to manage RMDs effectively, such as drawing down accounts early, doing Roth conversions, continuing to work, donating to charity, and using qualified long...

In this week's episode, Dave delves into the critical role of trusts in estate planning. Trusts help control asset transfers, limit taxes, and prevent family disputes. They are essential for prenuptial planning, protecting assets for biological children in second marriages, and planning for incapacity with financial power of attorney. Dave illustrates the benefits of trusts through personal a...